Change vs Modify

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Change

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Modify

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Most common: Change

	Change	Modify
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/tʃeɪndʒ/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/","/tʃeɪndʒd/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/tʃeɪndʒ/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/","/tʃeɪndʒd/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈmɒdɪfaɪ/","/ˈmɒdɪfaɪz/","/ˈmɒdɪfaɪd/","/ˈmɒdɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪ/","/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪz/","/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪd/","/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	to make something different	Change something to make it better or different.
Example	I decided to change my hairstyle for the summer.	You can modify the document by adding new sections.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A1	B2
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	considerably, dramatically, drastically, from, into, to, change out of all recognition, considerably, dramatically, drastically, from, into, to, change out of all recognition, considerably, dramatically, drastically, from, into, to, change out of all recognition	considerably, drastically, extensively, have to, need to, for, highly modified, in a modified form, modified to fit something
Antonyms	remain, stay	maintain, preserve, keep
Common mistakes	Confused with 'exchange' which means to swap something., Using 'change' without an object, e.g., saying 'I change' instead of 'I change my clothes'., 'Changed' and 'change' misused in verb forms.	Confusing with 'modification', which is the noun form., Using 'modify' without an object, which is incorrect., Overusing 'modify' instead of synonyms like 'change' or 'adjust' in casual speech.
Usage notes	Use 'change' when talking about making modifications or alterations. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, in casual or formal contexts. Avoid using it in a situation that requires a more specific term, like 'transform' or 'alter'.	Use 'modify' when discussing changes to plans, documents, or objects. It's neutral, so it's appropriate in most contexts, such as academic or business settings.

See it in real clips

Top Gear › S1 E1

which means they're going to change the bumpers and the bonnet

- Unimportant? Oh, here, you try it. - No, nobody wants to change.

Succession › S1 E1

And you never lawyered the trust change.

Top Gear › S1 E1

which means they're going to change the bumpers and the bonnet

- Unimportant? Oh, here, you try it. - No, nobody wants to change.

Change

Frequently asked questions: Change vs Modify

What's the difference between Change and Modify?

Change: to make something different Modify: Change something to make it better or different.

Which is more common: Change and Modify?

Change is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Change and Modify?

Modify is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Change and Modify the same CEFR level?

Change: A1, Modify: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Change and Modify?

Change: verb, Modify: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Change: I decided to change my hairstyle for the summer. Modify: You can modify the document by adding new sections.

Can I use Change and Modify interchangeably?

Not always. Change and Modify are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.